Umbrella.



J. K. STEELE.

UMBRELLA.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 12. 1915.

1,205,809. Patented N0v.21,1916.

2 SHEETSSHEET I.

Elmoewtoz :hwasfi 5768/6 wi/tmamo wwmo J. K. STEELE.

UMBRELLA.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. I2. 915.

Patnted Nov. 21, 1916.

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attoznua UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE;

JAMES KNOX srnnnnfor CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

UMBRELLA.

menses.

Application filed February 12, 1915.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMEs K. STEELE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented new and useful Improvements in Umbrellas, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to umbrellas, and more particularly tb umbrellas of the folding or collapsible type, and has for an object to provide an umbrella which can be folded or collapsed to form a'small package when not in use so that it can be conveniently carried in the pocket and which, when open for use, will be of substantially the same size and appearance as the ordinary umbrella.

The invention contemplates, among other features, the provision of an umbrella embodying various parts so arranged and constructed that they can be relatively collapsed so that the umbrella when not in use will form a small and compact package.

Still further embodiments of the invention reside in a novel means of securing the umbrella. in an open position and more particularly provides a runner which, when advanced upon the stem, operates to close the umbrella and which, when rotated upon the stem, operates to open the same.

In the further disclosure of the invention reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, constituting a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference denote corresponding parts in all the views, and in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of the umbrella, showing the same open; Fig. 2 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view'showing the umbrella closed; Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view showing various parts of the urnbrella collapsed or telescoped; Fig. 4' is a perspective view of the runner; Fig. 5 is a fragmentary vertical longitudinal sectional view taken through one of the ribs, showing the manner of locking the sections; and Fig.

6 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken on theline 66 in Fig. 5.

Referring more particularly to the views, I provide a stem 10 which preferably consists of a series of connectible stem sections 11 adapted to be relatively screwed together to form the complete stem and which, when the umbrella is folded or telescoped, are adapted to be relatively unscrewed. Mounted Specification of Letters Patent.

scoped one within the other as shown.

Patented Nov. 21', 1916.

Serial No. 7,814.

to slide upon the upper stem section of the stem is a rib supporting ring 12 which is preferably threaded and adapted for threaded engagement with a threaded portion 13 of the uppermost stem section 11, the said uppermost section carrying a suitable ferrule 14 for limiting the forward sliding movement of the rib supporting ring 12. The ribs of the umbrella are indicated by the numeral 15 and each consists of a series of rib sections 16, with the innermost rib section in pivotal engagement with the rib supportingring 12, the rib sections being relatively slidable upon each other, with one adapted to telescope into the other. In order to secure the rib sections in relatively extended position, the outermost end of each rib section except the end rib sections, is

provided with a locking tongue 17 adapted to spring into openings 18 formed at the inner end of the neXt adjacent rib section and whereby the rib sections will be held in relatively extended or open position, it being thus seen that they can be readily telX series of rings or similar attaching members 19 are carried on the rib sections and the usual umbrella cloth is attached thereto, as will be readily understood.

Mounted to slide upon the stem 10 on one of the stem sections 11 thereof is a runner 20 to which the inner ends of stays 21 are pivotally connected, each stay consisting of a stay section 22, with the stay sections relatively slidable and having a locking means similar to the locking means described for therib sections, whereby the stay sections can be secured in relatively extended position, said locking means being indicated by the numeral 23. The outer ends of the outermost stay sections have pivotal connection with the ribs 15 and, as mentioned heretofore, the inner ends of the innermost stay sections are connected with the runner 20. The runner 20 is preferably formed in two parts, namely, a body 2& with which the stays have connection and a tubular shank 25 swiveled on the body 24, said tubular shank being interiorly threaded for threaded engagement with the threaded portion 26 on one of the stem sections 11 of the stem 10.

Attention is particularly invited to the fact that in my device the advancement of the runner upon the stem closes the umbrella, whereas when the runner is retreated upon the stem, the umbrella is opened, this being the reverse of the usual operation of an ordinary umbrella. Now assuming that the fixed parts are in telescoped or collapsed position and it is desired to open the umrella, the rib supporting ring 12 is first slid rearwardly upon the stem and secured in threaded engagement with the threaded portion 13 to rigidly support the ring upon the outermost stem section. The various rib sections are then relatively extended, and, as will be understood, will carry the umbrella cloth with them, said umbrella cloth being secured to the rings 19, the stay sections 22 being also relatively extended, with the rib and stay sections secured in locked relation by the locking means set forth. The runner 20 is now slid rearwardly on the stem until the swivel shank 25 reaches the threaded portion 26, said shank being then threadedly engaged by the threaded portion, thus locking the umbrella. in open position, the retracting of the runner upon the stem being adapted to flex the extended loop sections so as to give to the umbrella cloth and the ribs the desired curvature.

When it is desired to collapse or telescope the various parts described so that the umbrella will, when folded, form a neat and compact package, it is only necessary to reverse the operation described heretofore, after which the stem sections 11 are relatively unscrewed, as set forth in the early part of this specification. It will be understood that the entire device, when telescoped or packed as mentioned, can be arranged in a suitable casing or covering (not shown),

thus providing a neat and compact'package that can be readily carried in the pocket.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

In a foldable umbrella, in combination, two stick sections arranged in telescoping relation, means for locking one section in projecting relation to the second section, said first and second sections having externally threaded portions, a sleeve having a contracted neck surrounding the second stick section and its main body portion internally threaded, a notch swivelably supported upon said neck, a ring surrounding the second stick section and being internally threaded, a series of ribs pivotally connected to said ring, a series of stretchers pivotally connected to said notch, said ring adapted to rest upon said notch whereby said ribs and stretchers can move simultaneously, said ring adapted to have its threads engaging the threaded portion of the second stick section whereby to space said notch and ring beyond the threaded portion on the first named stick section, said sleeve adapted to have its threads engaging the threaded portion of the second named stick section whereby to hold the stretchers in open position.

In testimony whereof I, aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES KNOX srnnnn.

Witnesses:

R. M. HARVEY, G. W. NEIGHBORS. 

